On April 13th, Iran launched a direct attack on the state of Israel, firing over 300 missiles and drones at the nation – the first time Iran has ever directly attacked Israel, a marked escalation from their reliance on terrorist proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. Israeli and American forces, along with other allies, shot down 99 percent of the missiles launched by Iran; however, 12 people were treated at a hospital after the attack and Iran continues to threaten Israel with “a decisive and much stronger response.”

This direct attack follows the barbaric October 7th terrorist attacks perpetrated by Iran-backed Hamas that claimed the lives of over 1,200 innocent Israeli civilians and took more than 240 hostages – the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust.

Israel is a great ally and friend of the United States, and our partnership in combating terrorism is crucial to the national security of both nations. It is vital that we stand by Israel and support them in their efforts to ensure the safety of their people. Israel has every right to defend itself and respond strongly to this unjustified attack to show Iran there will be consequences for their evil actions.

Unfortunately, President Biden’s appeasement of Iran and failure to support Israel has emboldened more Iranian and terrorist aggression against our ally. After the direct attack, President Biden reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu that the United States would not support an Israeli counterattack on Iran, refusing to have our ally’s back. Additionally, the President has repeatedly waived and failed to enforce sanctions against Iran, granting them access to revenue which Iran turns around and gives to terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. 

While the White House teeters and displays weakness against our adversaries on the world stage, I am unwavering in my support of Israel. This week, Congress voted and passed numerous measures in response to the Iranian threat by supporting Israel’s response to the attack and sanctioning Iran’s leaders, cutting off their revenue sources, and targeting their partners and terrorist proxies.

JOE BIDEN'S HISTORY OF APPEASING IRAN EMBOLDENED THEM TO ATTACK ISRAEL

• Joe Biden's long history of appeasement toward Iran protected Iran's drone and ballistic missile program, which Iran used in its unjustified direct attacks on Israel.
• In December 2006, the United Nations (UN) unanimously imposed permanent sanctions on Iran's drone and missile programs. 
• In 2015, the Obama-Biden Administration agreed to let the UN drone and missile sanctions on Iran expire in October 2023 as part of the disastrous Iran Nuclear Deal.
• In September 2020, President Trump reversed the sanctions expiration, making the UN drone and missile sanctions on Iran permanent again.
• In February 2021, Joe Biden reversed President Trump's move, ensuring that sanctions on Iran's drones and missiles will expire in October 2023.
• In September 2023, the Biden Administration waived sanctions to allow $6 billion in Iranian funds in South Korean banks to be transferred to banks in Qatar in exchange for the release of five American hostages.
• Authorizing the transfer of $6 billion for Iran sets a dangerous precedent that will incentivize more hostage-taking by the number one state sponsor of terror and other bad actors.
• In November 2023, House Republicans passed the No Funds For Iranian Terrorism Act, effectively preventing Iran from accessing these funds. 
• In November 2023, the Biden Administration reissued a sanctions waiver that gave Iran access to more than $10 billion.
• In March 2024, Joe Biden supported Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's unprecedented calls for new elections in Israel. 
• In April 2024, Joe Biden demanded that our most precious ally, Israel, surrender to the Iranian-backed terrorist organization Hamas. 

Today, the Biden Administration released the Education Department's final rule that "builds on the legacy of Title IX" by extending protections to transgender students, meaning that the 52-year-old law hailed for advancing educational opportunities for women will include for the first time biological males who identify as female.

The Biden administration's rewrite of Title IX guts the whole intent of the rule – to guarantee equal opportunities for women and girls. Once again, we see this administration erasing women while they cater to the most radical elements of the Democratic Party.

Women should compete in Women's Sports.

This week, Team Weber attended the Re-Opening and Ribbon Cutting for the Brazosport Hospital ICU. We are excited to see the newly renovated ICU wing. They attended the Brazoria Chamber Meet & Mingle Breakfast, the Texas Economic Development Update with Judge Matt Sebesta and Adriana Cruz from Gov. Abbott's office, and the ribbon cutting for Ann's Party Place, a venue space in Brazoria County. On the other side of the district, Team Weber attended the Golden Triangle Industrial Group meeting and the Port Neches Chamber Coffee. 

In Washington, I met with many folks from Southeast Texas. I sat down with folks from Texas City and Beaumont with the National Beer Wholesalers Associations to discuss the important issues facing their industry. I also met with the Executive Director of the Texas Land Council, members of the Texas Farm Bureau, and other great folks from TX-14! Thank you for visiting YOUR Capitol and Office.